Mark Twain once wrote: “This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.” Twain’s referring to the first day of April or, as it’s often known, April Fools’ Day.
While the first day of the fourth month of the year is sure to bring plenty of shenanigans (will you be the perpetrator or the victim?), what isn’t so certain is where the month’s name originated.
How did April 1 become the worldwide day of pranks and tomfoolery? Find out here.
First, where does the month of April come from?
The month of April goes way back. Before January and February were added to the end of the year by King Numa Pompilius around 700 BCE, April was already the second month of the Roman calendar year (March was the first). Around 450 BCE, April was rearranged into the fourth slot, and was assigned 29 days.
With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, an extra day was added, and even though it took Mother Goose a while to standardize the rhyme, we’ve been able to count on “30 days hath April” ever since.
How did April get its name?
But, being confident about the origin of a word that’s been around since before 1150 isn’t so simple. There are a few common theories behind April‘s naming. One is that the name is rooted in the Latin Aprilis, which is derived from the Latin aperire meaning “to open”—which could be a reference to the opening or blossoming of flowers and trees, a common occurrence throughout the month of April in the Northern Hemisphere.
Another theory holds that since months are often named for gods and goddesses, and since Aphrilis is derived from the Greek Aphrodite, it is possible the month was named for the Greek goddess of love (the goddess that the Romans called Venus)! Even now, April is a popular name.
And, as if that isn’t enough of a mystery, April also has yet another origination story. Around the fifth century, the Anglo-Saxons referred to April as Oster-monath or Eostre-monath, a reference to the goddess Eostre, whose feast was celebrated during the month. The Venerable Bede, a monk from the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter, believed this gave root to the word Easter—which is most often observed during the month of April.
April’s derivation will remain a story full of maybes, but we don’t see this month going anywhere soon. What do you think linguists will be discussing when the month of April is 3000 years old?
What do we celebrate in April?
April is notable for a variety of holidays, including Easter. The exact date for Easter, a movable feast, varies each year. Easter falls on April 17 in 2022 and April 9 in 2023. Easter’s date affects other important Christian observances including Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and Lent.
Earth Day takes place every year on April 22. One of the most widely observed international events, Earth Day brings together many large environmental organizations commemorating the day in a variety of ways—but always with the core mission of educating others on the protection of the environment. First commemorated in 1970 and now recognized in more than 190 countries, Earth Day is a perfect occasion to learn about the changing language surrounding climate change, one of the biggest dangers facing our planet.
If you were born between March 21–April 19, then you’re celebrating your status as an Aries, and you just might be rhapsodic and ardent. Why is that? You’ll just have to find out in our round-up of words describing Aries. Those born April 20–May 20 are known as devoted Tauruses.
